At Williamsburg Center for Dental Health, Dr. Stacey Hall performs various endodontic procedures, including root canal therapy, endodontic retreatment surgery, and treating cracked teeth and dental trauma.
A root canal is a significant dental procedure for maintaining your natural smile. It allows Dr. Hall to save a tooth from extraction. Our office can offer experienced and comprehensive care for your endodontic needs, helping to alleviate discomfort and restore oral health and wellness.
Endodontics: Specialized procedures for sensitive tissue
Endodontics is a dental specialty that relates to the tooth pulp and the tissues surrounding the root of a tooth. If the pulp, which contains nerves, arterioles, venules, lymphatic tissues, and fibrous tissues, becomes diseased or injured, endodontic treatment is required to save the tooth.
REASONS FOR NEEDING A ROOT CANAL
Various reasons and symptoms indicate the likelihood of needing a root canal. The most common include:
- Trauma to the tooth
- Changes in the appearance or coloring of a tooth, indicating an infection
- Increasing sensitivity to hot or cold
- Sudden or increasing pain in and around a tooth
- Changes in the gum line around a tooth or the appearance of an access
If you are concerned about your oral health or have noticed changes, it is best to call our office at your earliest convenience and schedule an appointment with Dr. Hall.
ROOT CANALS: WHAT TO EXPECT
A root canal often causes anxiety for patients but is less invasive today and causes minimal discomfort. In fact, for most patients, the procedure takes away the pain and throbbing feeling they were experiencing due to the internal infection.
We clean and numb the area around the affected tooth to begin treatment. Once you are comfortable, Dr. Hall will make a tiny hole in the back of the tooth. She removes the inner pulp material and infected tissue, cleans the interior chamber, and places biocompatible composite material to stabilize the tooth.
Dr. Hall seals the area to complete the procedure. We often recommend a dental crown to strengthen the tooth and support a long-term result. This is typically done at a second appointment to allow the tooth and surrounding tissue to heal.
Why choose a root canal over a dental extraction?
We always recommend a root canal over tooth extraction. Keeping your natural tooth in place will maintain the structure of your bite and minimize the impact on adjacent teeth. Extracting a tooth almost always requires tooth replacement. Depending on the treatment being used, this additional complex treatment can take time to complete.
How long does a root canal take?
A root canal procedure takes about an hour. During a follow-up visit, we will place a dental crown.
Does dental insurance cover root canals?
Your dental insurance may cover a portion of the total treatment cost. Our front desk will work with you to determine your eligibility for benefits. Then, we can provide information regarding your estimated costs.